Flexible joint packing box



July 11, 1933. w B TlNSLEY 1,917,742

FLEXIBLE JOINT PACKING Box Filed March 50, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 %5 ziizsds nmm ATTORNEYJ W. B. TINSLEY FLEXIBLE JOINT PACKING BOX July 11, 1933.

Filed March 30, 1931 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 /lfflllllllllll/flflllIl 2 INVENTOR m ATTORNEY5 Patented July 11, 1933 unirnn STATES WILLIAM B. TENSLEY, OF PAMPA, TEXAS FLEXIBLE JOINT PACKING BOX Application-filed March 30, 1931.

My present invention has reference to a joint packing box for use in connection with oil or water pumping apparatus and my object is the provi. i a packing boxwhich is flexible so that the same will give or flex to retain itself in a line with the polish rod in the slight backward and forward movement of the rod and thus prevent wear on either the packing box or the rod and also insure a fluid tight joint.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not afiect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improve ment in applied position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improvement.

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Figure 4; is a sectional view through the upper portion of the bottom of the fixed joint section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a cap.

In Figure 1 of the drawings I have illustrated a pumping apparatus provided with the improvement. In this figure the numeral 10 designates the derrick, 11 the derrick floor, 12 the Samson post for the beam 13 on whose inner end there is connected the polish rod 14;. The beam 13 has its center supported on the Samson post and the beam is imparted an upward and downward swinging movement by the turning of an engine w iich operates a crank that is connected with the beam. As these parts are of the usual construction they have not been illustrated by the drawings.

Serial No. 526,382.

'tinuous wear will be occasioned between the packing joint and the rod which results in the WQEHIDQ of both of these members and consequently an unreliable and leaky joint.-

It is the purpose of this invention to overcome such leaky joints by providing a flexible joint packing box for the polish rod.

The joint, in Figure 1, is broadly indicated by the numeral 15, the polish rod working through this joint and having connected thereto the usual string of rods that extend to the bottom of the well and working the pump when the polish rod is vertically reciprocated.

The T which connects the fixed member of the flexible joint 15 with the well tubing is indicated by the numeral 16 and the flow pipe, which directs the oil or water to the. tanks and which is screwed in the central branch of the coupling 16, is indicated by the numeral 17, while the casing head to which the T is also connected is indicated by the numeral 18 and the casing by the numeral 19.

The lower and fixed member of my improved flexible joint packing box includes a lower tubular part 20 which is screwed in the upper end of the T-coupling 16. The top of the lower member merges into a hollow substantially semi-spherical head 21 and in this head there is received the hollow spherical head 23 of the upper tubular member 24 of the joint. The head 23 is greater than onehalf of a circle, and is mounted for turning in the head 21, there being a ground joint between the heads. The head 23, at the juncture of the tubular portion and the stem is formed with a shoulder 25 that is contacted by an angle lip 26 provided by flanging inwardly the central open portion of a hollow substantially semi-spherical cap 27. The cap 27 has its widened edge formed with an outstanding continuous flange 28 and the said Sill vflange has its periphery preferably widened outwardly at rightangularly disposed points so that the flange is not weakened by bolt openings 29 that pass therethrough. The mouth of the cup-shaped head 21 is also formed with an outwardly directed flange 30 that may be provided with peripheral enlargements disposed opposite the peripheral enlargements of the flange 28 and through which the bolts pass and against which flange 30 the heads of the bolts rest. The bolts pass freely through the openings in the flange 28 of the cap and are received through washers 31. The bolts are engaged by nuts 32 that contact with the washers 31 and surrounding the bolts and exerting a pressure between the washers 31 and the flange 28 of the cap there are helical pressure springs 33. These springs force the saucer-shaped head 21 of the lower joint member into tight frictional engagement with the substantially semispherical head 23 of the upper joint member and likewise force the cap tightly against the head of the upper joint member.

The polish rod let, of course, passes through the joint members and the tubular portion 24 of the upper joint member has xed in the lower portion of the bore thereof a bushing 34 that afiords a stop for a hacking 35 which is arranged in the bore of the tubular portion 2% andwhich packing is forced against the polish rod by a bushing which is in the nature of a follower member 36. The packing is adjustably compressed against the polish rod through the medium of a cap nut 37 which is screwed on the outer end of the tubular portion 24 and the flexible joint box and whose inner shoulder contacts with the head of the packing follower member 36.

My improved flexible joint packing box for polish rods will have its upper portion, which carries the packing yield with and in timed relation to any yielding or forward and rearward, or as a matter-of-fact, in any direction of the polish rod 14 so that air between the polish rod and the packing box is effectively prevented. The flexible packing box insures a fluid tight joint between the polish rod and the T joint 16 and it is believed the construction and advantages will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art to which the invention relates without further detailed description.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A flexible joint of the character described comprising a pair of semi-spherical interfitted members having centered tubular pipe extensions. an external shoulder formed on one of the members, a semi-circular cap telescoped over the shouldered member and having a circular angular lip concentrically disposed with respect to the pipe extension of said member and resting against the shoulder, bolt members joining the cap with the other member, and expansion springs acting with the bolts to compress the interfitted members and tensioning the cap relative thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM B. TINSLEY. 

